Monthly Archives: January 2022

Faith

FAILURE TO REST

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For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So, I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest,’”

Hebrews 4:3

The story of Israel’s failure to enter into rest was preserved for future generations…for you and me.  Modern man and especially God’s church has a lot yet to learn about the importance of the Lord’s rest. 

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11

In that great book of Hebrews, Chapter 4, Paul gives believers momentous warnings and asks us to compare ourselves with ancient Israel to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes and fall short. Is the church in these last days repeating the same mistakes as Israel of not resting because of unbelief and therefore falling short?  Let us not spend a lot of time surmising that the experience of “belief” is to merely acknowledge doctrinal precepts about Jesus and going to church each week.  We are told that the devils believe (James 2:19).  Belief is more dynamic than we might think.

Failure to Believe

Paul outlines the deadly results of the Hebrews’ failure to enter into the rest God had provided. He then acknowledges to his readers that we “who have believed DO enter that rest.” So right away, we see a connection between belief and rest. But there is more.

The “belief” in Paul’s argument is not the kind of experience of the devils.  On the contrary, it is all about trusting God even when things look their bleakest, and we feel our weakness; or when we feel strong and confident!  It is trusting God against the influence of the world and traditions of people who appear as angels of light.    It is sad that a person can be a believer but still live outside God’s will.   Here is where Israel failed.  They believed in God’s existence, but they didn’t trust God’s promises to protect them from their enemies, and they became disobedient to God. 

The failure to trust God will always result in disobedience, excuses, and rationalization about sin, no matter how big or small the offense.

Author

  We live in a world where obedience and compliance are signs of weakness.  To the modern Christian obeying God’s law has been called legalism in some circles.  Somehow, we have been duped into thinking the Grace of God and faith is a license to disobey.  In our ignorance about God’s will and His requirement of obedience, we have gone so far as to say things like, “the law of God has been done away with.”  We can’t connect the dots between faith, belief, and obedience.

God’s Wrath and His Deadly Oath

Verse 3 of Hebrews 4 is an eye-opening statement.  Because of His wrath, God swears that the Israelites will not enter into His rest.  What has angered God so much that He makes an oath, a covenant, of prohibiting His people from entering into His rest?

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them.” Hebrews 4: 1,2

Did you catch that?  The good news (gospel) preached to you and me in 2022 was also preached to them (God’s people in the Old Testament)! The Good News of Jesus!  Image that!  How many of us think that the Old Testament did not contain the gospel about Jesus!  How wrong is that!  The sermons they received were not from notes of a preacher behind a podium, but it was taught through the experiences of great patriarchs of old AND daily from a School Master of priestly services.  This teacher was the ceremonial laws and services of types and ceremonies God instructed Moses to write down and then give to the people to follow.  If followed, it would teach them about Christ, God’s plan of salvation, and the experience of faith.  It was meant to change the heart and mind about the nature of God.  It was designed to build trust.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

The death of an innocent lamb in the sanctuary services was probably the most explicit message of the substitutionary death of the sinless Son of God for our sins.  What great news of escape from the wages of sin and death for them and us at the expense of God the Father and Jesus Christ!

The daily services of the priest and sacrifices signified the earned work of Jesus on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. It showed us his continual intermediation for all of us!

We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, Hebrews 8:1

Many other services had the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They all taught the good news of grace, forgiveness, atonement, and mercy.  Those services were “shadows” pointing forward to the nature of Christ and His coming as the sacrificial lamb of God (Hebrews 10:1).

But sadly, the gospel “did not profit them.”  It did them no good because they could not find in themselves the desire to trust and obey God.  Yes, they were somewhat faithful to follow the forms and ceremonies, but their heart was somewhere other than on the God who rescued them. 

They wanted to be like the other nations.  So, they began to break God’s eternal law of ten commandments willfully.  They had other Gods; they rationalized away others.  They put heavy burdens on the one law meant to give rest (The Sabbath commandment). This angered God, and as a result, they failed to enter into His rest.  What is this rest?  Why is it so important?  How does it apply to the modern believer?

Without Faith, God is Not Pleased

But without faith, it is impossible to please Him…Hebrews 11:6

Like the Hebrews of old, many people fail to enter into God’s rest because of unbelief or lack of faith (aka trust).  The people of God believed in the existence of their God, but they did not have faith or trust in Him.  Their actions proved they did not trust Him.  God had made many promises, but they simply did not trust God to perform what He said He would do. 

James understood the connection of works (actions) with faith.  These “works” are undeniable proof that absolute trust is in the believer’s heart and not merely lip service.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18

Often, we read this passage from James and think that “works” are good deeds.  But, in the context of the book of James, works are equated with belief (trust) and obedience to God’s will as found in the ten commandments.

Abraham’s Faith and Obedience.  

And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. James 2: 23, 24

How was Abraham’s belief signified?  It was not lip-service, but it contained action or obedience.  The writer of Hebrews tells us:

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 8:11

Here again, we see the connection between faith and obedience (works).

Now we can see the problem with Israel; They failed to grasp that faith and trust are the same things, and genuine faith will result in corresponding actions of obedience to God’s word.  Although they had plenty of proof that God would keep His promises, they let other things of disbelief rule their life.  This did not give them rest in their hearts nor from their enemies.  Here is the nature of their problem.  Their lack of faith led to disobedience, and they did not enter into the promised rest.

“…those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience.” 

Hebrews 4:6

Paul’s Argument for Rest

Paul begins to compare the works of God at creation.  And He compares His rest on the seventh day as a model for us.  Interestingly, the first 24 hours of Adam and Eve were spent in “rest.”  This could not be rest as we think of it, i.e., taking a nap. Why would Adam and Eve be physically tired?  God does not tire; He doesn’t sleep.  This “rest” of God was the rest of the relationship.  God set aside weekly time for his creation to have a date with Him.  To this day, it gives you an invitation of time for complete attention to a relationship with your creator.  “The Sabbath was made for man,” But the jews made it into something else…a religious requirement for God’s acceptance. To this day, many think about the Sabbath in legalistic terms like this, but the Sabbath is all amount relationship and faith if “remembered” correctly.

 Although the work of creation didn’t make God tired, it didn’t allow dedicated time for a relationship with His creation.  There may have been no need for the Sabbath had there been no humans made in His image.

“…although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Hebrews 4: 3-5

Paul partially quotes the “certain place” mentioned here and references the creation story and the seventh day in Genesis. Probably because his audience knew these passages well.  The entire wording is:

And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2,3

Then Paul quotes from another “place” or passage of Scripture.  This time it is from David in the Psalms.

“So, I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:11

Paul compares the “rest” God desires for the benefit of His people of ceasing from their labors on the seventh-day Sabbath.  Right away, we should notice three main points in Paul’s argument regarding rest.  

1.) Jesus, our Creator (See John 1), rested from His work. He is our example of rest. We don’t see Jesus taking naps on the Sabbath; we see Him going about the work of salvation.  If we follow his example, it is less about physical rest and more about focusing on a relationship with Him through service.  For it to become a “do nothing” day is not the spirit of the Sabbath.

2.) God blessed the seventh day for a reason. The seventh day is blessed and sanctified (set aside) by God Himself as a witness to His creative powers and the concept of spiritual rest.  Every Sabbath testifies that God made the heavens and earth.  This should have an impact on evolutionary thinking.  There is no reason for an astronomical-related seven-day week other than the fact that God made the cycle of six days of work and one day of rest.  The process always begins, as with the example of the creation week, with the first day and ends with the seventh day.  Therefore, the cycle of work and then rest is not a day of our choosing, reasoning, or convenience but the one God blessed and sanctified at the beginning for all mankind.

“…Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it…Genesis 2:3

3.)  Those who fail to enter His rest are because of unbelief and disobedience.  This Israel did when they disobeyed God and followed “strange gods.”

God desires to give His people rest that is physical, spiritual, and also a testimony.  The gift of the Sabbath rest, planted in the heart of the Ten Commandments, demonstrates that they trust God.  Keeping the Sabbath made no sense to the world because they didn’t acknowledge God as Creator. Since God is the Creator, He knows how crucial physical rest can be.  Why do Christians fail to believe that God desires His people to prosper and be in health even as the soul prospers? 3 John 1:2

Jesus is the rest we need, both physically, spiritually, and as a testimony.  Jesus used Sabbath language when he said,


Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

He can give both physical and spiritual rest because He was the one who claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath.

And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5

Israel’s Failure to Trust God

The literal and spiritual rest God wanted for Israel was to have their own land and to live peaceable lives. This rest was to testify to their loyalty to the true (and only) Creator God.  If they obeyed God, it would demonstrate the power of obedience and faith in the living God to the world.  By obedience to Him, they would be a stark contrast to the rest of the world. They would bring a knowledge of the only true God even to the Gentiles.

“Arise, shine, for your light, has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth.

 And thick darkness over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you,

 and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light

and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60: 1-3

But Israel failed to enter into this rest!  God brought them to the borders of the promised land and desired to end their wandering in the desert; God was ready to give the land promised them and rest from their enemies:

See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:8

At God’s direction, the people left Horeb and reached the hill country at Kadesh Barnea.  Again, God tells them to take the land as He had promised and not be afraid or discouraged by what they see!

“See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 1:21

 But the people said, “hold on.  What is the hurry?”  Instead of believing God and moving forward as God directed, they wanted to spy out the land, so they came up with the idea to send spies to scope out the land. 

“Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.” Deuteronomy 1:22

Like today, we think forming a committee to determine the “route we are to take” is very practical.  But, instead of moving forward at the Lord’s command by faith and what He has already assured us, we look for human ways to move forward. 

Moses sent spies into the land as they requested.  All but two spies (Joshua and Caleb) gave stories that created fear and doubt in the people’s minds. This should be a clear message to leaders in the church today.  Messages should be one of faith and trusting God.  If God says to move forward, spies are not needed.  Joshua’s message was the right one,

“…do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” Number 14:9

Here at Kadesh Barnea, the people rebelled against God because of a lack of trust in Him and His word.  They went so far as to accuse God of hating them and seeking a way to destroy them!

But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, “The Lord hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than us; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’” Deuteronomy 1: 26-28

Because of this rebellion, God took away the promised rest because they failed to trust and obey Him. 

When the Lord heard what you said, He was angry and solemnly swore: “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 

Deuteronomy 1:34, 35

But here is where they made another mistake.  When they heard that they were not going to “see the good land,” they decided to move forward as God had said originally.  But it was too late.  They moved without the blessing or command of God.

“We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country. Deuteronomy 1:41

They assumed God would support their works, their fight, and be with them.  The Lord told them not to go and gave them a promise of defeat.  But they went anyway.

But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight because I will not be with you. Your enemies will defeat you. You rebelled against the Lord’s command, and in your arrogance, you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down Deuteronomy 1: 42-44

Israel had failed to hear and obey God.  They were fearful and afraid because they did not trust in the command and promises of God.  They didn’t believe God. Some of God’s people kept their faith and trusted God.  A list of these can be found in Hebrews 11.  But even those of faith could see further than just land on this earth.  They looked to the heavenly land.  They have not received this promise to this date because the ultimate promise is heaven, not a piece of land on earth.

 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them , and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 13,16

Looking back at this story, meant for us, what can we learn?  What is the rest we are to enter?  Is there a land promised to us to free us from our enemies…to be safe…to have a relationship with Jesus after all the work has been completed?  Yes! As mentioned above in Hebrews 11:13, it is a heavenly country

The promises of God were canceled by those who did not trust God…those with unbelief. They trusted in their own efforts and did not take God at His word. Paul brings us to a conclusion:

Israel and Us-Rest or Not?

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a particular day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Hebrews 4: 6-9

The conclusion of the story of Israel, who failed to enter into rest, is very perplexing to the modern follower of God.  These phrases confuse us because we don’t want to hear what we think we are hearing. 

“Since therefore it remains that some must enter it.” (Some of us have not entered God’s rest). Like Israel, our unbelief or lack of faith keeps us from rest.

Some will not enter into God’s rest from their enemies “because of disobedience.”

We can talk about grace, mercy, faith, and eternal security all day long, but if some of us disobey God, we will not enter into the land promised by God. 

He designates a particular day.  Paul connects this phrase with what David said in Psalm 95:8

We are asked to “not harden our hearts.” We are to” hear His voice”!

For if Joshua (Jesus) had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

Hebrews 4:8

Moses brought them to the borders of the promised land, but it took Joshua (Jesus) to lead a new generation into the promised land finally.  Moses represents the law that can bring conviction of sin, but faith in Jesus completes the trip into the promised land.   

We are confused because of our eerily similar failures.   We stand on the border looking at the land promised to us (heavenly).  We are much like Israel, which failed to move forward because of unbelief.  We don’t trust God.  We don’t have faith in His promises.  We don’t have a testimony to the world.

We think the Sabbath commandment is legalistic and only for the Jews, while the other nine do not fall into that category.  Why?  It is because resting in God is not convenient and misunderstood.  It cuts across the tradition of the church. It threatens the modern church.  God says, “Remember.”  The church says to forget.  The commandment says the seventh day; the church says the first day.  

Tradition, routine, and the works of our hands constrict our trust.  We say we trust God, but our actions speak otherwise.  When God tells us something in scripture that cuts across tradition and feelings, we balk.  We form committees to discuss the “route we should take” instead of listening to the simple command to “hear His voice.”  When God says go, and we wait, we miss the opportunity to be empowered by God’s Spirit and His promises of victory.

The story of God’s salvation, the gospel, and what Paul wants us to hear does not profit us if we fail to trust God and move forward at His command.  Our testimony is of no effect if we are like the other nations around us. 

But if we can find rest in Jesus both physically and spiritually, a testimony of our belief will shine.  “Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God Hebrews 4:9 NIV

Daniel and Revelation

REVELATION-THE CANDLESTICKS

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There is no doubt that the candlesticks of Revelation represent the churches and their responsibility to be a light to the world. First, the seven churches represent each local church of Asia Minor made of individuals and collectively. Jesus had a message for them. But each church also describes the conditions of local churches of today. Even further, they represent the historical events of the church’s journey through time. Next, we can see ourselves in the council given each church.

So we have an individual responsibility to respond to the council.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This phrase is made to each of the seven churches. How vital, then, is the message to individuals?  The ultimate purpose of God the Father, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit is to improve and correct each church, each individual.

“The mystery (hidden truth) of the…seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20

The oil that feeds the lamp represents the church’s dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit to provide the light of the truth as found in Jesus Christ. Each church experiences different manifestations of the Holy Spirit because each has different situations and needs. Jesus walks among them, serving each of the churches individually and meeting them where they are.

The Holy Spirit manifests the reality of Jesus’ presence among the churches. The churches must pay heed to the message and recognize the authority of the One speaking to them.

“As the various churches are weighed and discussed, the living Christ is seen in action among His own people. They do not appear to them as the terrible sovereign on the throne or the conqueror riding to battle. He walks among them as a Lord who seeks to command their virtues even more than exposing and punishing their faults. These letters are His particular warning and counsel to the church of all time as the various aspects appear under the guise of the seven historic places.” Merrill C. Tenney

The strong appeal of the book of Revelation to Christians today is to follow the Lord’s way in proclaiming the gospel message to the world. It is, therefore, the sacred duty of the church to present Jesus Christ—his character and ministry—in a way that meets the people where they are. The symbolic representation of the church as the seven-branched lampstand denotes that the church has the full support of the Holy Spirit and a full task to perform. The first duty is to be the light to the world—to proclaim Jesus in words and action.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14

Through the church today, Christ meets people with aspects of Himself which correspond to their own life circumstances and relate to their individual needs. The church is the only light that Jesus shines through. For the church to fail in her role is to lose her reason for existence; her lampstand will be removed.

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:5

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

A church or individual who does not let the light of Jesus flow through them is as worthless as salt that has lost its flavor. The resources of heaven are at the church’s disposal to rectify the shortcomings of all things. But it is of little consequence if we don’t repent and turn from our excuses to behold the One who walks among the candlesticks.

Daniel and Revelation

DANIEL AND REVELATION CONNECTION

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Brief Overview

The two books of Daniel and Revelation are related in a unique way. Both John’s first vision (Revelation 1:12-20) and Daniel’s last vision (Daniel 10-12) are divine scenes where both describe the risen Christ’s vision.

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18

Daniel outlines the four great monarchies that would persecute God’s people, but he goes beyond the fourth kingdom (Rome) in his last vision.  This is precisely where the prophecies of Revelation begin.  A resurrected Rome (deadly wound healed) and its spiritual persecution becomes the high point of the chiastic chain of last-day events in Revelations 13 and 14.

Below is an illustrative chart to compare the closing scenes of Daniel’s vision and the beginning of the vision John.

Daniel 10:5-12Revelation 1: 12-18
A certain manOne like a son of man
Clothed in LinenClothe in a robe reaching to the feet
Girded with a belt of pure goldGirded with a golden girdle
His eyes were like torches of fireHis eyes were like a flame of fire
His feet like polished bronzeHis feet like burnished bronze
His voice was like a roaring multitudeHis voice like the sound of many waters
No strength, face to the groundJohn falls at his feet as dead
Hand touches DanielHand laid on John
“Fear Not!”“Fear Not”

Repeat and Expand

God’s merciful principle of “repeat and expand” works within each book and together to prepare them for things they are “not able to bear,” for the time is near.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:12

Daniel and Revelation

REVELATION-PATMOS AND THE LORD’S DAY

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I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Patmos-Brothers and Companions

In these opening verses, John sets the stage for the remainder of the book. First, he identifies with his audience by referring to himself as a brother and companion. In the context of the teachings of Jesus, believers and followers are a family of brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:48-50). This spiritual relationship continues to this day in the universal body of Christ. As the family of God, it is of great importance to edify each other who are “in Christ.” But this does not discount or diminish our responsibilities and love to all our blood relatives and the other human beings on this earth.

Next, John tells his audience another reason why he is a brother and companion. It is because of the trials and tribulations of the day. He further references the patience of Jesus Christ; a virtue much needed during the times he found himself. In the final days, it will not be churches, denominations, or organizations that bring unity among the brethren, but rather their testimony of Jesus and the trials and troubles which are sure to come upon the body of Christ. The word and idea of “patience” will appear five more times in the message of Revelation:

1.) As part of the message of recognition to the nature of the people in the churches of Ephesus and Thyatira and

2.) Twice to the people living at the end of time:

“Here is the patience of the saints….

Revelation 13:10

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12

Perhaps nothing brings more unity to the body of Christ than to be persecuted for Jesus. At a time of persecution, petty differences and dogma fade quickly in the unity of the brethren.

Patmos-John’s Platform

There has been some debate about whether Patmos was a penal colony or not. Still, the fact remains there was a reason why John was on this small sixteen-square-mile island some fifty miles off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). This Alcatraz-type island was situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea because of His firm stance on the Word of God and His testimony about Jesus. Patmos (Now called Patino) was the perfect place for Roman authorities to quiet the tongue of John…or at least they thought.

John’s patience and duress for the the “Word of God” is a reference to Jesus Himself. In his gospel, John describes Jesus as “The Word of God.”

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14

So John was not on a Sabbatical at a resort island. Whether it was a penal colony or not, the fact is that He was placed there against his will to silence him. But God transcends any situation where the enemy would discourage or make of none affect our testimony. The Patmos experience of His followers turn the night into day and amplify our testimony. God often takes what was meant for evil and turns it into good (Genesis 50:20) as was the case for the trials of Joseph and others. Their testimony was written to encourage us who were to come after.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope  Romans 15:4

Spiritual Setting

John has described his physical setting and his identification with those of like-faith. Next he turns to the spiritual setting. He was:

“…in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…

The phrase “in the Spirit” indicates the involvement of the third member of the Godhead. As shown in the opening verses, the vision came from God the Father through an angel to John. But, John is “in the Spirit,” which would suggest The Holy Spirit was inspiring (not dictating) him in the writing of the scroll regarding the revelation of Jesus. This is consistent with how the Holy Spirit worked with writers of Scripture in times past.

“…for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit..”

2 Peter 1:21

John put in his own words what he saw but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Note that neither angels nor the Holy Spirit dictates; they show and reveal and move individuals to talk or write in their own words. As we read words that were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it should likewise inspire and move us as hearers.

Next John tells us the time and space from which He wrote. He states it was on “The Lord’s Day.” The Greek for this phrase is kyriakos hēmera. It is used nowhere else in the Bible. Why would John give us the time of the vision? What importance can it be? There are five proposals as to its meaning. We will examine only three. The last two I will briefly mention.

The Lord’s Day

1.) Most commentators say the Lord’s Day refers to Sunday (the first day of the week set aside in honor of the resurrection). They propose that early Christian writings connect these two dots: Lord’s day equals Sunday and then connects first-day meetings as a change in their habit of meeting and worshiping on the Sabbath.

The most substantial evidence for this view is found in extra-biblical works, Didache and the letter of Ignatius of Antioch to the Magnesians (The Apostolic Fathers p. 154-155). But they don’t use the Greek phrase of kyriakos hēmera (Lord’s Day) but rather kata kuriaken (according to the Lord.) This insinuates that the term “Lord’s Day” was not intended, but rather He was in the Spirit “according to the Lord”.

But, another extra-biblical source (the apocryphal book of The Gospel of Peter) uses kyriakos hēmera (Lord’s Day). The first church father to use the Lord’s day for Sunday was Clement of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 190).

This early writing appears almost one hundred years after Revelation. This alone is not admissible as evidence for understanding this phrase. A sound exegesis of this text is to compare similar Biblical words and phrases regarding the fact that Lord has a day.

2.) Probably the least palatable with modern churches, particularly those steeped in tradition, is that the “Lord’s Day” means Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. The phrase Lord’s day states God has a day. It shows exclusive possession. It belongs to no one but Himself. At the same time, the Lord’s day is never used elsewhere; similar phrases are. Here are a few. Here is where proponents of the seventh day Lord’s Day find their basis:

 “…the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…”Exodus 20:10

The fourth commandment makes explicit reference to the beginning of time and the creation as the start of the Lord’s Day:

 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20: 11

Other than the seventh-day Sabbath, no other day of the week comes with a blessing for a particular reason from God.

Other passages indicate the seventh day Sabbath as belonging to God Himself.


“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight,

Isaiah 5813

Jesus, who co-created with God the Father (See John 1), refers to Himself as in possession of the seventh day Sabbath when He and His disciples are accused of desecrating the Sabbath by walking through grain fields and eating grain. The legalistic Sabbath guardians (Pharisees) accused the disciples of some sort of weird unbiblical prohibition about thrashing and eating grain on the Sabbath.

But Jesus’ defense of their actions was very profound to His religious listeners. The Pharisees, perhaps, thought of it as blasphemous, but to His followers, it further solidified Him as the “Son of God.” It also meant, He possessed a day of the week for a good reason; He was (an is) its author:

 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8

Again, Jesus (The Lord) indicates possession of the Sabbath, and for a good reason.

Massynberde Ford, who struggles with the meaning of the expression, admits: “most probably the Christians would still be keeping the Sabbath, the Seventh-day.”

3.) A number of scholars avoid the debate of the Sunday vs. Saturday argument by placing the phrase in the context of the eschatological day of the Lord (hemera tou kuriou or hemerera kuriou). The phrase “the day of the Lord” is often used by prophets n the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Joel 2:11, 31; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:14, Mal. 4:5). Here is an example. Notice its clear reference to the end of time.

For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?…The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Joel 2: 11, 31

Peter quoted Joel in his famous sermon of repentance to the vast crowds in Jerusalem. The entire sermon can be found in Acts 2.

 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:…The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Acts 2: 16, 20

Despite this, John does not use the Greek for “the day of the Lord” but rather “the Lord’s day“.

4.) A few scholars think that “the Lord’s day” refers to “Easter Sunday as an annual event rather than a weekly Sunday. But again, the evidence for this is extra-Biblical and based on a tradition of a much later time (2nd century) than at the time of John’s writings. As such, it cannot be used as proof for a much earlier usage of the phrase from the book of Revelation.

5.) Some authors think that the reference is to the Emperor’s day.” Adolf Deissman shows that the word kuriakos was current in the first century, denoting what belonged to the Roman emperor who claimed the title kurious (‘lord”). Although inscriptions confirm that Egypt and Asia Minor had a day known as Sebaste, which was devoted to the Roman emperor, it is difficult to see a connection between “Lord’s day” and “Sebaste day.” First of all, the two phrases are completely different; no conclusive evidence has been discovered indicating that the phrase kuriake hemera was used for an imperial day honoring the emperor. Also, it is unlikely that John referred to the Emperor’s day in Revelation 1:10 at the time when Christians in Asia were persecuted for refusing to call the emperor kurios and to worship the emperor.

So, when did John receive the vision? Sunday as the Lord’s day is doubtful because it cannot be supported by biblical or first-century extra-biblical evidence. Stronger biblical evidence favors the seventh-day Sabbath as the Lord’s day. Again, as mentioned before, this does not set well with most people who have traditionally designated Sunday as the Lord’s day.

On the other hand, the eschatological character of the book, as a whole, is also in favor of the eschatological day of the Lord (See Rev. 1:7). Perhaps there is a double meaning related to John’s recognition of the time and space as the Sabbath and the end time day of the Lord. A time of rest in the day belonging to the Lord, even during the stressful events that surely must come to pass at the day of the Lord.

And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:33

To this writer, we mustn’t get hung up on this “gnat,” as it were, forgetting there is a whole camel to examine in the remainder of the book. Even more important is where we started in this writing. John seeks to identify with believers in their persecution for their witness and thereby unify us all in the Lord. While some will disagree with some of the conclusions regarding the “Lord’s day,” let us agree to disagree and move on to the “weightier matters of the law.” The arguments in this phrase pale when compared to the entire message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Daniel and Revelation, Reasons to Believe

REVELATION-THE AUDIENCE

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Overview

Of utmost importance in reading the messages to the seven churches is grasping how they should be understood and to whom they are addressed.  The book’s contents indicate a particular time and place (The Seven Churches in Asia Minor).  Nevertheless, in Revelation 1:19, it states it is also prophetical

“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” Revelation 1:19

It can be said that the messages were for both the churches at that time but also for those who would come after, particularly those in the last days. Interestingly, the letters have an additional application for the different modern churches and individuals.  As you are reading, you may see yourself in one of the churches. All of the messages end on a very personal level,


“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:22

Notice, the plural is not used, but instead, John uses the singular.  It doesn’t say “ears,” but rather “ear.”  Each person should therefore read as it talks to you directly.  While the message is to a congregation, it does no good if we look at the message as applying to someone else.

Layers of Application

The beautiful aspect of these seven “letters” and their audience is the layers of application. We have seen above that one layer is the literal churches of Asia Minor. Next, we must keep in mind if it is prophetical.  Third, the messages can be for almost any modern church. There are examples of the kinds of things that can go wrong in any church.  Finally, and the most important, is the message to the individual.  After all, the body of Christ is not limited to buildings and denominations.  A congregation made of solid and committed followers of Christ individuals will result in a robust and productive church for servitude.

The messages were not sent out separately but rather as a whole book.  This indicates the value of each church reading and understanding the trials of each congregation.  Here is where empathy (not judgment) can go a long way to “enduring to the end.”

But there is still yet another layer of application dealing with its prophetical message of “…what will take place later.”

The History of The Church

We live in a modern society where there are attempts to destroy history because of the bad things that have happened years ago. If this is the reason for killing history, little history would remain.

Memorials of the past are judged by whether they were pure or not.   But individuals and organizations are more effective if they can objectively look back and appreciate the struggles and mistakes of those who went before us.  One writer suggested the importance of learning from the past in these words. 

“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history.” E. G. White

The writing of the entire Bible is based on learning from the journey of God’s people, both the good and the bad, to not only learn but to have hope.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. Rom 15:4

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.1 Corinthians 10:6

God has laid out an underlying revelation of how the church would fare during different points of history.  The book of Revelation claims to be a prophecy and must be approached as prophecy and messages to churches and individuals (1:3, 22:7, 10, 18-19).  Like bookends, Revelation starts with the prophetic platform and ends with the same (1:3, 22:7, 10, 18, 19)

And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 

Revelation 22:10

Therefore, it is appropriate to view the messages to the seven churches as prophetical for John’s perspective. Here is another layer that many Christians would like to avoid because it forces us to see the bad things done in the name of Christ throughout the aging of the church.  At the time John wrote the letters, the course of the church was unknown to him.  But God knew the trials yet to come for His people. Despite the trials and tribulation, it gives us hope for the future of God’s people.  We must remember, these messages didn’t come from John. They came from God the Father.

As we get deeper into the study of Revelation and begin to look back at the history of the church, we will see there are seven eras in church history as symbolized by the characteristics of each of the seven churches:

ChurchEra
Ephesus1st Century of Christian Era
SmyrnaPersecution of the 2nd and 3rd centuries
PergamumChurch of Compromised 4th and 5th centuries
ThyatiraMiddle ages
SardisReformation and Post-Reformation
PhiladelphiaMissionary movements of the late 18th century
LaodiceaEnd of time church

Summary

The messages to the churches are multi-dimensional.  It has layers of information and application.  First to the believers for which it was originally written (inclusive of all the churches in the area not addressed in the book: [Colossae (Col 1:2) Hierapolis (Col. 4:13), Troas (Acts 20:5, 2 Cor. 2:22) And Miletus (Acts 20:17)]

Next, the message is for all churches of all ages, but particularly for those at the end of time. Most importantly it is for individuals (those who have an ear), regardless of the organized church they associate with or identify themselves. Lastly, it gives us a two-thousand-year-old history of the challenges of the church from John’s time to ours. By looking backwards, we can see clearer those things “yet to come.”

Daniel and Revelation, Reasons to Believe

THE BOOK OF REVELATION-PART 3-The THEME

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Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1: 7-8

After John’s Prologue, Greetings and Doxology, John turns the reader’s attention to what Jesus will do. He then reminds us of who Jesus is.

What Will He Do?

The principal of understanding Revelation’s message is to know when John talks in symbolic language and when he describes the literality of situations or events. There is nothing in Revelation 1:7 that would indicate symbolism. It concerns the eyes of every person who is alive (and resurrected) at the return of Christ and their reaction. He also includes another group in this spectacular event: “they who pierced Him.” This is a direct reference to those who were responsible for His crucifixion. How can this happen? Aren’t those people dead already? That will be answered later in Revelation.

Verse 7 obviously describes the literal second coming of Christ and the end of the world’s history as we know it. How do we know His coming is literal? To solidify the event as tangible, a comparison of the exact same event from other inspired writers of the Bible is critical. Here are just a few passages:

Daniel 7:13

“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!

Daniel sees a similar vision of the “Son of Man” (Jesus) coming with the clouds of heaven. Notice it is not the clouds of the earth but heaven. Both John and Daniel “SEE” with their eyes as does every believer throughout the ages. including this special group of persecutors.

Zechariah 12: 10-14

“…then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. in that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem,

Zechariah describes those who” pierced” Jesus and their location: Jerusalem, the place where Jesus was crucified. They will look on Me (Jesus). Again, the eyes are used to see the events of Jesus’ return.

Finally, we hear from the lips of Jesus Himself as recorded by Matthew, a description of His return that matches Daniel and Zechariah, to name a few.

Matthew 24:30

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

There is something mentioned by Jesus that is not be the other writers. It is the “sign” of the Son of Man. It appears John is describing something just before Jesus appears. This sign, indicates that Jesus is coming and the mourning begins. Then they see Jesus coming in “the clouds” of heaven. It is a powerful and glorious thing to see.

Jesus talked directly to those who were soon to “pierce Him.”

Mark 14: 61:62

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Summary-What He Will Do.

So, What will Jesus do? He will return visibly. It will be an event that is powerful and glorious to see. Every eye of those who are alive (and those resurrected in the first resurrection-(See 1 Thess 4: 16-18) and those who pierced Him will see Him coming (See Mark 14: 62), Matthew 26:64). Those on earth will mourn (grieve) like someone who has lost someone very close to them. As described later in Revelation. those who mourn are under tremendous conviction of remorse and lost opportunity. They have been such great enemies of Jesus that they can’t stand to look at him. They run from Him to hide His face from their sight:

Revelation 6: 14-17

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The other eyes that will see Him are those who are “in Christ” and alive at His return. The follower’s of Christ living and the those who “died in Christ” from all ages will see His return. The “dead in Christ” are resurrected to see Him coming. It is something they were promised before they fell asleep in Christ. Perhaps the clearest description of this portion of Christ’s return comes from Paul. Paul was encouraging the believers of the Thessalonian church by describing that great day of Jesus’ return. These early believers thought Jesus should have returned already. But Paul described things that had to happen first (See 2 Thessalonians 2:3). As this church watched believers die and buried, they longed for Jesus, as do many today, to come quickly and put an end to death.

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Our comfort is to know that Jesus is coming! The saved of all ages will rise from the dust of the ground along with those who alive to meet Jesus in the air. Here is where eternity will begin. It is after those who are asleep in death are raised and their bodies are changed (See 1 Corinthians 15: 51:55). Then we all meet Jesus in the air. He takes us back to where He is now (See John 14: 1-3)

The saved will not be mourning, rather they will be praising.

Isaiah 24:9


And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Who is this Jesus?

This question is answered in the context of the previous verses about Jesus return. After John describes the return of Christ, He reminds us who Jesus is, especially as it relates to that glorious event of Jesus’ return.

Revelation 1:8

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

First, John describes Jesus as the “Alpha and the Omega”. These are the Greek letters we would describe as “A” to “Z” The start and the finish. The Beginning and the End. This world’s history started with its creation and it will end with the return of Christ. Peter described the world’s end as the “day of the Lord”:

2 Peter 3: 10,

 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  

Again, another inspired writer and an apostle of Christ (Peter) describes the end of this world as a destructive event at the return of Christ or “the day of the Lord.”

Jesus is both the beginning and the end. He acted in the past, he is present now, and he will always be .

“The conclusion of world’s history will not be through ‘a gradual process’ of either degradation or development but through the coming of Christ in glory and majesty.” “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” Stefanovic, p.71

Finally, Jesus is referred to as “The Almighty.” The Greek word for Almighty is pantokratōr. It is used in the Old Testament as “Lord of the Sbaoth” (“Lord of Hosts” or Lord overall). It is used nine times in the book of Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 15: 21:22; 19:6;)

To put it plainly, John in both Revelation and His gospel, describes Jesus as God Almighty, the Creator (beginning) and Sustainer of life on earth

John 1: 1-3, 14

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him (Jesus) nothing was made that was made. 

And the Word (Jesus) became flesh (incarnation) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth

Conclusion

There can be little doubt that the theme of Revelation is centered on What Jesus will do: A very literal destructive return to planet earth . Every eye will see Him coming in heaven’s clouds. “Every eye” includes the living; those who are resurrected; and those who pierced Him. The lost living will “mourn” and try to hide their face from Him. The saved of all ages will rejoice at the fulfillment of His promise to return.

John reminds us of who Jesus is: This is important in the scope and reason for Jesus’ return. He is the one who began life on earth (The Alpha) and is the one who will end it (Omega) except for those who are “in Him.” He is everything in between. Finally, Jesus is the Lord Almighty, The Lord of Hosts. He will return and not keep silent:

Psalm 50:3

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

This is the theme, the foundation of the Book of Revelation. Everything revolves around the literal event of Jesus’ return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 19:16

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.